We love living outdoors in the summertime, and flower gardens add both color and beauty to any outside space. Whether a true garden planted in the soil, potter plants or dish gardens, plants and flowers can make all the difference in your summer landscape. But planned correctly, you can also encourage some very special guests to your backyard or front porch – both bees and butterflies are attracted to bright blooms and specific plants – and Central Square Florist would love to help you to create a welcoming space for them.

Why Bees? At first thought, you may not think attracting bees is a good thing. But the bee population is in rapid decline globally, which has dire implications for our food supply. So even the smallest efforts to give the bees a place to collect nectar and pollinate is doing the world good! And don’t worry – experts say that honeybees foraging for nectar will rarely sting. In fact, unless they are harassed or stepped on, you should have no issue watching them work. 

Which Flowers are Best?  You will find that any brightly colored flower that provides nectar will be inviting to butterflies, but certain flowers will attract certain local species. Aster, cosmos, daisies, sunflowers, zinnias, and marigolds are popular flowers, while milkweed, clover and thistles will also beckon them.

The butterfly bush and goldenrod are both highly attractive to both butterflies and honeybees, while echinacea, bee balm, black-eyed Susans and geranimus will keep the industrious bee busy.

Repelling Unsavory Insects: Let’s face it, we don’t want all types of insects to frequent our gardens – did you know that certain plants can also repel unwanted pests? Chrysanthemums are particularly effecting, keeping roaches, ants, Japanese beetles, ticks, silverfish, lice, fleas, bedbugs, spider mites, and harlequin bugs at bay. Marigolds will repel mosquitoes, as will lemon grass (which citronella is derived from). Mint, lavender and rosemary also repel mosquitos and flies, so an herb garden around your outdoor space will help immensely.

Nature is amazing! Not only can we decorate and create flower gardens with these beautiful plants, but we can attract butterflies, help the plight of the honey bees, and keep pests away! For more ideas on creating beautiful Boston and Cambridge area gardens, stop in and see us at Central Square Florist.